ySTANBUL (CyHAN)- Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoy-lu spoke over the
phone with his Iraqi counterpart, Haider al-Abadi, and expressed
Turkey's full support for Iraq in its struggle against any threat
to Iraq's security, unity and territorial integrity.

According to information acquired from sources within the Prime
Ministry, Davutoy-lu received a phone call from Abadi, who briefed him
about security threats the Iraqi government is facing. In response,
Davutoy-lu reportedly told Abadi that Turkey supports Iraq in its
ongoing struggle against such threats.

During the phone call Davutoy-lu reportedly pointed to the
significance of public support in Iraqi locations that are currently
controlled by the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
and also told Abadi that he hopes Iraq will develop its military
infrastructure and national resources to be more effective in the
ongoing military operations being conducted against the ISIL extremists
within Iraq.

Davutoy-lu also warned Abadi about the protection of people in
ISIL-controlled areas that were taken back from ISIL by the Iraqi
administration, pointing also to the significance of the efforts to
prevent the citizens of these areas from being polarized.

In response, Abadi reportedly told Davutoy-lu that they are also
aware of the significance of such matters, expressing his gratitude for
the support provided by Turkey.

Early in March Turkey said it would support Iraq in an anticipated
operation to retake Mosul from ISIL.

After talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Iraqi Defense Minister
Khaled al-Obeidi, in Baghdad on March 4, Defense Minister ysmet Yylmaz
said: "We are on the side of Iraq in an operation targeting [the
recapture of] Mosul. We are ready to provide every kind of intelligence
and logistical support to Iraq in its fight against terrorism."

Turkish FM condemns ISIL beheading of 3 peshmerga fighters

The Foreign Ministry released a written statement on Monday
vehemently condemning the ISIL group's beheadings of three
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) peshmerga fighters.

ISIL published a video on Friday purportedly showing the beheading
of three Kurdish peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq. The video also
featured threats that ISIL will kill more Kurdish peshmerga fighters
allegedly being held captive.

In the statement, the Foreign Ministry called the beheadings
"a great indignation," adding, "We curse this brutality
and vehemently condemn it."

The ministry also offered its condolences to the relatives of the
peshmerga fighters killed by ISIL.

"We would like to take this opportunity to repeat the fact
that we [Turkey] are in solidarity both with Iraq and the KRG in their
fight against the ISIL terrorist group and that we will continue to
provide any kind of support in this direction," the statement
reads.

A total of 17 peshmerga fighters were taken captive by ISIL on Jan.
30. ISIL released pictures of the peshmerga captives on various Facebook
pages on Feb. 1.